What not to do

I've been playing for about a year now, taking lessons for six months or so. (so I can read notes and play scales) I have not played with a band yet. I feel that I need to do this in order to progress. Since god hates a coward I started looking for a group that was local. I am meeting with a group in a week. They play country western, but not the "woman dun left me the dog got run over and my beer is warm" type. It has a nice classic rock sound... Naturally, I have spent my life listening to rock, and have never heard the songs on their list, though I do like what I am hearing.

Now here is the tricky bit. I don't really know what I am going to play yet, but I do know I'll figure it out. I have the "what am I going to do" grappled with. I've accepted that I don't know. What I'm scared of is what not to do. I've never played with a band before and I don't really want to be part of a band horror story as the causative agent... if you know what I mean.

What are the worst things you have seen new players doing? I ask in the interest of never doing them.

Let's get this straight right away: You're going to f*** up. And that's not a bad thing. That is as simple as it is going to be. Playing with other people is just a completely different dimension of music, you're going to be feeling like you've just started the instrument.

Keep it simple, and groove. Don't try to impress anyone, just lock in and get in a flow-state of mind. Don't start doing scale runs and ad libs all over the place, because that's when you fall off the wagon.

Don't be nervous. I know this is much to ask, and it's hard. But overthinking and trying to remember what the instructor told you, is not going to help you when you're thinking on your feet. If you mess up, don't stop playing and don't let it kick you in the head. If you drive forward, people will forget the mistakes you made when you've reached the end of the song. Besides, nervosity is going to tense you up, and it will affect both your technique and concentration.

Don't be negative to creative and constructive input. If you don't love the idea someone shoots at you, grasp it and use your own creative mind to help it evolve into something that you like.

Don't forget to LISTEN to what everyone else is doing. If you truly listen, much of the work, the articulations and the groove will come by it self.

And lastly, don't be shy. When you pick up that bass, you play those notes like they are the last notes that you're ever going to play. You don't have no girlfriend, no overdue bills, no parents you got to make a phone call to, no bathroom that needs to be cleaned. There's no one scrutinizing you, it's just you and the music. You will not think about anything else than the flow you feel, for the duration of the song. Concerns, worries and stuff like that can come inbetween songs, not during.

All of the above, plus remember that you're auditioning them just as much as they should be auditioning you. Are they what you're looking for?

What are your goals for getting into a band? Playing gigs? Making new friends? Recording? Getting better as a musician? (you kind of gave us that one....). All of those are perfectly valid reasons to join a band for various people. Figure out if this band is going to help you meet those goals. Don't assume that just because these folks maybe have played together for a while that they're necessarily any better than you at musicianship, at being a good human, anything...

Look out for warning signs (wives/girlfriends involved in the band for one!).

Its good you want to do the right things, but they need to be doing the things that are right for you too. Don't be afraid to say "no" or "I'm not sure" to them if you're not fully convinced... there's lots of bands out there. This won't be your last band, I can almost guarantee it.

Did you mention that you are a new player up front? That you don't know a lot of country songs? If so, relax. They should be able to provide you with the lyrics with the chords above them, just like the rhythm guitarist would follow. Someone will tell you how the bass line goes..."This is a walking bass" -which is basically playing the "boogie woogie" blues pattern (which would be in 4/4 time.) or "It's 2/4 time." which is that 1st and 5th thing you hear on a lot of country. So don't sweat it. It's easy. Playing with others is the thing to do. You'll be fine. I would say the worst thing you could do is not be up front about your interests and abilities.

I, V, I, V, I, V, If you don't know what I IV V is you're gpoing to find out real soon. "Nashville number system".

The less you play the better, until you get a chance for a little one count fill here and there, with the drummer. If you don't mess those up somewhere along the line he'll give you two counts to do something with.

You are going to mess up, when you do, don't stop! Stay with the groove, don't even hestitate. Mess up some more if you have to.

Time before note selection, every time. You can drop out on the odd note if you catch yourself being late on the note in your head but never play it late.

two fingersOpinionated blowhard. But not mad about it.Gold Supporting Member

I can't remember which Jazz sax player said the original quote but it goes something like this.....
"If you hit a wrong note, hit it again about 5 more times and everyone will think you are in the ZONE!"

Since you've been working on scales this will be a cakewalk for you. Listen to the kick drum and put the root note of the chord on beat 1 and 5th on beat 3. Don't be afraid to ask what the chords are or even for a chord chart! There you go, you're a country player. Just remember if you have more than 4 strings or play above the 5th fret the Brotherhood of Country will be forced to field dress you as a warning to other bass players.

Thanks for this, really. It shouldn't be making me nervous as everything I have learned about musicians has them kind of patient and supportive. Unless you piss them off... I was up front with my skill level. Our goals seem the same, though I have not yet met them I can tell that they aren't going to be the lay around and jam once a month type.

My bandmates always tell me, (when i'm not sure if i'm ready to play whatever we've just added the first time), "Just don't STOP". Meaning if i hit the wrong note, keep going until i either find it or they find me. The last time we played we derailed one song, and the only reason anyone might have known was because we were all kinda giving each other weird glances trying to figure out what to do. I can't even tell on the recording.

If they are a cover band, download those songs and LEARN THEM... you don't have to know them note for note, but just well enough to get through the song.

If they are an original band then it's a different ball game, if they have recordings of the songs, ask for them so you can get familiar with them... if no recordings then you have it a bit easier because your going to be adding your ideas to their songs.. all you need is the key of the song and the changes and you're golden! rock on!

Just make sure you are listening to the rest of the band, please dont sit and play "by yourself" You will most certainly stand out like a sore dick, especially if you've never played with a band before. It is not like playing along with a cd, there is ebb and flow, and you have to move with it.

I can't remember which Jazz sax player said the original quote but it goes something like this.....
"If you hit a wrong note, hit it again about 5 more times and everyone will think you are in the ZONE!"

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Dizzie Gillespie

Oh - and if you can get a set list, or at least get them to tell you a day or two in advance some of the songs they are going to be playing - then YouTube and Spotify are your friends.

My bandmates always tell me, (when i'm not sure if i'm ready to play whatever we've just added the first time), "Just don't STOP". Meaning if i hit the wrong note, keep going until i either find it or they find me. The last time we played we derailed one song, and the only reason anyone might have known was because we were all kinda giving each other weird glances trying to figure out what to do. I can't even tell on the recording.

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This. Best piece of advice I ever got when I started playing in a band. Someone told me "If you play something wrong, that's one mistake. If you stop, that's two mistakes."
Just get back on track and keep going. Most people won't even notice you're clunker.

When I first joined a band I had been playing bass for 2 months, and had some theory under my belt. The band was so happy to have a bassist that they just dragged me on stage at an open jam I had started going to and I became part of the house band. The keyboardist used to yell the chords back to me and I just had to remember to keep playing no matter what. That keyboardist has gone on to become one of my best friends and my roommate, and though I've been playing for about 8 years now he'll still catch himself yelling chords to me without thinking, unless he needs me to yell the chords to him.